Fire safety is important year-round, and Prescott’s Fire Chief says there are some extra things you need to consider during the winter.
Renny Raynor says despite how little snow is on the ground right now, as winter continues, you’ll need to make sure vents and exhaust pipes aren’t blocked by heavy snowfall.
“Any furnace pipes, exhaustion, make sure that they’re shoveled out,” Raynor says. “If you have natural gas, make sure there’s definitely not a lot of snow on top of that, as well.”
Raynor also urges you to make sure every door that leads outside your home, including side doors you don’t use frequently, are clear, in case you need to use them to escape in an emergency.
“Any means of egress, any other side doors or anything like that, make sure that they’re also shoveled, so that people can get into a secondary egress, if need be,” he adds.
Beyond that, Raynor encourages you to create a household fire escape plan with your family, and make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are working.
If you have any questions about fire safety, he says you can call or visit the Prescott Fire Department and firefighters will be happy to help you.